Alstroemeria plant named ‘Jaofi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Jaofi’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; large dark purple and white-colored flowers with greyed purple-colored flecks and streaks, flowers arranged in symmetrical umbels; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JAOFI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jaofi’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable plant qualities, attractive flower color and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted in January, 2005 by the Inventors in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number JA 953, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number JA 4222, not patented, as the male, or seed, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in March, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia since May, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jaofi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jaofi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Large dark purple and white-colored flowers with greyed         purple-colored flecks and streaks, flowers arranged in         symmetrical umbels.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red purple, yellow and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection both have purple and white-colored flowers, however the white-colored areas are more prominent and defined on plants of the male parent selection in comparison to plants of the new Alstroemeria.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Napoli’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Napoli’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had more flowers per         inflorescence than plants of ‘Napoli’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger perianth         segments than plants of ‘Napoli’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Napoli’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Napoli’ had red purple and pale         yellow-colored flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter pedicels than         plants of ‘Napoli’.     -   5. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Napoli’ differed in         anther and pollen color.     -   6. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Napoli’ differed in style         and stigma color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Jaofi’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Jaofi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, maximum day temperatures averaged 31.5° C., maximum night temperatures averaged 6° C. and light levels averaged 21.4 KWH/m². Plants used for the photographs and description were two years old. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Jaofi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number JA 953, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number JA 4222, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By rhizome divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures             ranging from about 6° C. to 32° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About eight weeks at             temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to 32° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; close to 155A             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Rounded. Length: About 5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.06 cm. Texture: Fleshy. Color: Close to NN155B. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 19             weeks. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 110 cm to 125 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 11.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             longitudinally ridged.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single cup-shaped flowers             arranged in compound umbels; flowers face upright to             outwardly; perianth segments separate.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering with about 18 open flowers             and flower buds per inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous year round in             a greenhouse in Colombia; plants begin flowering about 19             weeks after planting.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About two weeks; flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter:             About 1.6 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate to obovate. Color: Close             to N79C to N79C.         -   Umbel height.—About 13.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 12.5 cm by 14 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 5.9 cm. Width:             About 1.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; towards the apex, slightly             sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening, upper surface:             Towards the apex, close to N79C; mid-section, close to 157B;             towards the base, close to 186D; flecks and streaks, close             to 183A. Color, when opening, lower surface: Towards the             apex, close to 79C; mid-section, close to N80C to N80D;             towards the base, close to N79D. Color, fully opened, upper             surface: At the apex, close to N79A; towards the             mid-section, close to N79D graduating to N81B to N81C;             mid-section, close to 157D; towards the base, close to 84C;             flecks and streaks, close to 183A. Color, fully opened,             lower surface: Towards the apex, close to N79B to N79C;             mid-section, close to 155A; towards the base, close to N80C             to N80D. Inner perianth, median segment: Length: About             4.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; towards the             apex, slightly sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening, upper             surface: Close to N79C; towards the base, close to 186D.             Color, when opening, lower surface: Close to N79C to N79D.             Color, fully opened, upper surface: At the apex, close to             N79B; towards the mid-section, close to 79B to 79C; towards             the base, close to N81C to N81D; flecks and streaks, close             to 183A. Color, fully opened, lower surface: Towards the             apex, close to 83A to 83B; mid-section and base, close to             N81D. Outer perianth, lateral segments: Length: About             5.4 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded and             slightly mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.             Color, when opening, upper surface: Towards the apex, close             to N79B; mid-section, close to N79C; towards the base, close             to 145D. Color, when opening, lower surface: At the apex,             close to 146B; towards the mid-section, close to N79B;             mid-section and base, close to N79C to N79D. Color, fully             opened, upper surface: Apex and towards the mid-section,             close to N79A; mid-section, close to N79B; towards the base,             close to N81C to N81D. Color, fully opened, lower surface:             Apex and towards the mid-section, close to 79A; mid-section             and base, close to N79B to N79C. Outer perianth, median             segment: Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded and slightly mucronate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to N79B; mid-section,             close to N79C; towards the base, close to 145D. Color, when             opening, lower surface: At the apex, close to 146B; towards             the mid-section, close to N79B; mid-section and base, close             to N79C to N79D. Color, fully opened, upper surface: Towards             the apex, close to N79A; mid-section, close to N79B to N79C;             towards the base, close to N81C to N81D. Color, fully             opened, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to N79A;             mid-section, close to N81A to N81B; base, close to N81D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 25° from the peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elongated. Anther length: About 7 mm. Anther             diameter: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 189A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5.2 cm. Style             length: About 4 cm. Style color: Close to N81D. Stigma             shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to N81C. Ovary             color: Close to 146B tinted with close to 187B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Jaofi’ as illustrated and described. 